Pelu Awofeso’s documentary on Ajayi Crowther’s exploits to premiere Jan 17

Pelu Awofeso, a renowned Nigerian travel journalist, is set to unveil a documentary showcasing the remarkable life and achievements of Samuel Ajayi Crowther, a pioneering bishop and Yoruba linguist.

The first episode titled ‘Mission to Osoogun’ will be previewed on January 17, 2025. The documentary features 20 locations, including sites visited by Crowther during his lifetime.

Awofeso began filming in November 2021, driven by a passion to share Crowther’s story and appreciate his contributions as a bishop and linguist.

“That date is significant, it was 17 January 1845 that then 36-year-old Ajayi Crowther, his young family, and a team of other missionaries of the Church Missionary Society (CMS) arrived in Badagry, in present-day Lagos State,” he said.

“Essentially, 17 January 2025 is the 180th anniversary of that milestone. For Crowther it would be the start of a lifetime of service, not just to the Christian faith but also to the society that would later become Nigeria.

“I feel that, as a Nigerian who has covered culture, history, and heritage for a long time, the documentary makes for a very good opportunity to bring up the essential details about Bishop Crowther.

“It’s to appreciate one of our own who toiled in an era when there were no trains, planes, and automobiles. They were trekking, using canoes and ferries.”